Covid-19: The Elderly Dilemma - Game Script Should we isolate the elderly to release the rest of us?


Background

Lora Mein, the governor of Microcosmos state, cannot sleep at night.

Lora is the youngest governor Microcosmos ever had. Maybe this is why she has strong political opposition waiting for her to fail the coming election, a year from now. 
The Covid-19 epidemic timing can not be worse (like it's ever a good timing for an epidemic)

Lora was one of the first to announce a statewide lockdown. She successfully "flattened the curve" and enabled hospitals some time to get organized. Now, when things look a bit better, she is considering to gradually remove the lockdown.

Some prominent voices (mainly from the opposition) demand to isolate the elderly (65 and older) and protect them while the rest of the population are released from the lockdown - enabling an economical recovery.

Governor Lora is asking for your advice...

Characters

Gena Eco Economic Commissioner for Microcosmos state

Gena is a brilliant young economist. She is only 45 and already the Chief Economic Advisor for the state of Microcosmos. Her financial models had great success so far. She is one of the reasons for Microcosmos' flourishing economy and for the popularity of governor Lora Mein.

Up until the pandemic outbreak, unemployment rate was 2% and the median household income was around $65,000. During the enforced lockdown, The underemployment rate increased by 23.3 points to 25.3%

 


Your Task

Hi Gena

You have a simple point to make: If the lockdown is not immediately open, the market will go into a deep depression and it will take years to fix it. This should not be allowed! Severe economic and social consequences are coming our way if we don’t take action now.

Data shows that the elederly population (65 and older) is the most vulnerable. Young people are more likely to survive and this solution is pretty obvious: Isolate the elderly and open the lockdown. 

You can learn alot about what can happen by reading about these three American states.


Resources

Scene - 01

Prof. George Doc Commissioner of Health for Mircrocosmos State

Prof. George Doc started his career as an infectious diseases expert. He ran the epidemiological department in the biggest hospital in the country and in a few years became the GM.

Today, at the age of 70, he is Commissioner of Health for Mircrocosmos State. In the past three years he has successful led a reform in the country’s hospitals and clinics. Costs were reduced while services improved. He is a well known and highly appreciated figure in the current administration.

 


Your Task

Prof. Doc,

All available research and findings are showing that older adults are at a significantly increased risk of severe disease following infection from COVID-19. Over 27% of the dead are 65 and older. It seems that the elderly population is less infectious, but obviously they are in a higher risk.

Your conclusion is clear: We must protect the elder population at home and in retirement homes and therefore should be isolated. If this is carried out, there is no reason to hold up the rest of the population. We will protect the elderly and enable the rest of the population to go back into normal, cutting down the economical damage.

 


Resources

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Dr. Gloria Frued Psychiatrist

Dr. Frued (Not associated with Zigmond…) is a regional medical psychiatrist. She specializes in psychogeriatrics. In the past five years she advised the governor on mental health issues.

At the age of 66 she has already announced her wish to retire and travel around the world. The Covid-19 crisis jammed her plans and the governor asked her to stay another year and help.

 


Your Task

Dear Dr, Frued

You were always out there, in the field. During the Covid-19 outbreak you visited a lot of retirement homes. You could not meet the residents as they were all in strict isolation. However, you met the managers and staff and interviewed them.

It is clear to you that many in the elderly population are in a bad mental shape. They feel lonely and deserted by their families and by society. Many report on increasing physical and emotional difficulties and research show an increase in PTSD and heart attacks.

This cannot go on. The isolation of the elderly will speed up their death! This will have severe social impact. Isolation must be stopped and we must find ways to renew their contact with the world, providing reasonable protective measures


Resources

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Briana Brister Legal Advisor

Briana Briskter is a lawyer and a legal researcher. After years of teaching and studying constitutional law, she became the governor’s legal advisor and one of the most influential people in governor Mein's administration.


Your Task

Dear Mrs. Brister

A lot of people are calling the governor to isolate Microcosmos’ elderly and enable the rest of the population to go back to their routine. However, this stands against basic democratic principles like the right for equality and non-discrimination, the right of life and liberty and and the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, some of the older than 65 people are still working and even run businesses. The isolation idea is both impractical and illegal.


Resources

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Paul Nathaniel Philosopher

Even when he was young, Paul Nethaniel knew he wanted to practice philosophy. In the past 20 year he was occupied with moral and ethical issues. He is also an expert in theology and biblical research, always seeking for up-to-date implementation of religious thinking.


Your Task

Dear Mr. Nethaniel

In Psalms 71 paragraph 9: “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” and we as a society should adopt this principle. Does being old mean you are not relevant anymore? Isn’t it cruel to isolate only the elderly while everybody goes back into their life? Can we just overlook everything for the sake of economics?

You believe that this is totally unacceptable. There must be another way. A more respectful way to honor and protect our elder population! You will oppose this as long as you breathe…

You have read this article and learned really useful insights.

 


Resources

Scene - 01

Scene 1: The Elderly Isolation Dilemma


1.

Public Message

Dear advisory board

Thank you for helping out in this difficult time.

Please present yourselves and your roles so we can better know each other.


2.

Private (Shortly After previous message)

Gena Eco:

Hi Gena

Start by presenting yourself. Once presentations are over make the following point: If the lockdown is not immediately open, the market will go into a deep depression and it will take years to fix it. 

Use resources and arguments to support your argument.

Prof. George Doc:

Prof. Doc,

Start by presenting yourself. Once presentations are over present your conclusion: We must protect the elder population at home and in retirement homes and therefore they should be isolated.

Use resources and arguments to support your argument.

 

Dr. Gloria Frued:

Dear Dr, Freud

Start by presenting yourself. Once presentations are over explain to the rest of the board that many of the elderly population are in bad mental shape. They feel lonely and deserted by their families and by society and should not be isolated in any way

 Use resources and arguments to support your argument.

Briana Brister:

Dear Mrs. Brister

Start by presenting yourself. Once presentations are over explain to the rest of the board that calling the governor to isolate Microcosmos’ elderly is against basic democratic principles.

Use resources and arguments to support your argument.

Paul Nathaniel:

Dear Mr. Nethaniel

Start by presenting yourself. Once presentations are over explain to the rest of the board that we should adopt the biblical principle: "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

Use resources and arguments to support your argument.


3.

Public Message (Shortly After previous message)

Dear Advisors

Please present your arguments: Should we isolate the elderly population (65 and older), as older adults are at a significantly increased risk of severe disease following infection from COVID-19.

This move may enable us to stop the lockdown on the rest of the population and reduce the inflicted social and economical damage.

 


4.

Public Message (a while after previous message)

Dear Advisors,

Please read the arguments raised by your peers and respond. Do you agree or not? Why? Don’t forget to back your arguments with facts.


5.

Public Message (Shortly After previous message)

Dear Advisors,

We just received a message that residents of retirement homes in the state of Microcosmos decided to protest against the intention to isolate them. They are planning to go on a hunger strike!

Does that change your arguments?

Does your age, or your college’s age impact your position?

 


6.

Public Message (Shortly Before next message)

Dear Advisors,

The meeting is about to adjourn and we will soon need to vote. Please read the arguments made by your peers and respond.


Vote

Dear Participants,

Should we isolate the elderly and enable the rest of the population to go back into their routine?

 



Option 1
Isolate the elderly
Option 2
Do not isolate the elderly

Ending message for when most people voted for option



Option 1

You decided to isolate the elderly

 

Option 2

You decided not to isolate the elderly

 


Discussion Points

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